Help her find an Orthapedic doctor who really LISTENS...and bet he/she could help her find relief from this misery. She should take MRI, CT scan reports & x-rays to first visit even tho' Dr. will want their own, they can be compared to latest ones.

Don't know where she lives but do know of one in Dallas TX area who has really helped friend of ours.

Good luck!

I haven't, but I think the chiropractor may be onto something. I know that post-shingle pain can last indefinitely. From an article on neuropathy:

Infection with certain viruses is associated with extremely painful sensory neuropathies. A primary example of such a neuropathy is caused by shingles.

Tralynn, you described my own upper back pain exactly. Sharp, ugly pain under my left scapula (shoulder blade) running up to my neck. It was horrible.

I have cervical spinal stenosis pinching nerves that run all over my body because of where the stenosis is. My dr. sent me to a physical therapist but I didn't have much hope it would work. The PT was incredible though! She assessed my pain and then told me to squeeze crunch my shoulder blades together three times every hour. Weeks and weeks of the debilitating scapula pain was gone by the next day!

Jodi-

My mom has something like what jodi is describing.(nerve pinching in neck/upper back) Mom went to PT for a bit and was given something she could use at home. It attaches under chin/head and there is a bag filled with water for weight, its basically traction and helps decompress the neck/upper spine. She said it works wonders. She uses it occasionally when she starts to get discomfort in neck/upperback.

Has she had a bone density scan? Has she tried any exercises to strengthen the back? Has she seen a good orthopedist?

You are sweet to to try to help your dear mother.

She has gone to physical therapy for several weeks, with no relief. The chiroprator said he doubts it is firbromyalgia, because my mom does get relief when she lies down at night. She is not one that will take medicine or at least doesn't want to, seems to make her real sleepy. The last doctor wants to send her to a pain management dr.
She really does not want to go this route.

But ... has the physical therapist suggested the scapula squeeze crunch I was told to do to relieve the pain? It might be worth a try.

I have fibromyalgia (FMS) and my scapula pain was nothing like any FMS pain I've ever experienced.

Jodi-

I'm a physical therapist assistant and yes, the pain could be from the shingles. The discomfort can stick around for many years. My mom's pain does. She had it on her face and head about 6-7 yrs. ago and still, it returns. If all the MRI's, x-rays and nerve conduction tests are negative then I would feel comfortable saying it is from those darn shingles. Now, it could be fibromyalgia also but I don't believe there are tests for this and so many MD's believe there is no such thing as fibromyalgia. They think it's a crock! I do think fibro. is less confined to one area of the body and tends to cover a large area of the body or many joints. My mom received tremendously relief from an acupunturist...

My mom has looked into accupunture, but medicare will not pay for it, and it can be very expensive, but maybe it is still worth it. As for the pain management dr. what is your opinion or experience with them? She really doesn't want to do this because all she has heard about this is that they keep giving you pills or shots. Covers up the pain but not taking care of the problem. Thanks